Honduras has signed and ratified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Honduras has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

Honduras has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.

A basic legal framework on intermediary liability for copyright infringement is absent in Honduras's law and jurisprudence. Despite the country having committed under Art. 15.11.27 of the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States FTA to implement a safe harbour for intermediaries for copyright infringing content, no regulation has been put in place that implements this commitment.

A basic legal framework on intermediary liability beyond copyright infringement is absent in Honduras law and jurisprudence.

According to the National Telecommunication Commission of Honduras (CONATEL), users should provide a document of identity for providers of Internet services or computer network access.

According to the Normative Resolution No. 001/12, operators of telephone service shall collect data, including the name of the SIM card buyer and ID number for the Hondurans and passport or residence card number for foreigners.

According to Art. 22 of Normative Resolution 004/11 (NR004/11), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are required to implement a security system designed to prevent, monitor, and detect illegal activities that may be carried out by users. If such activities are detected, service operators must notify the competent authority in writing and offer full cooperation during the investigative process.

Wireless products and equipment that connect to the public switched telephone network (PSTN), along with other Radio Frequency equipment, require type approval and certification in Honduras. There is no in-country testing required and existing international test reports are accepted for the homologation process to obtain the CONATEL approval. Technical documents are reviewed and validated in the approval process. Homologation can also be done through an international entity (Title V, arts. 213-220 B of the General Regulation to the Telecommunications Law). Products requiring CONATEL (Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones) approval include PBX; routers, modems, and gateways; RFID and Bluetooth modules; and cell phones.

There is no comprehensive data protection law in Honduras. The Law for the Protection of Confidential Personal Data is currently being discussed in the Honduran Congress. Personal data is mainly regulated under the Law of Transparency and Access to Public Information (Decree No. 170 – 2006), which introduced some accountability for those public entities who mishandled confidential personal data. In addition, the General Regulations of the Framework Law for the Telecommunications Sector defines seizing, using or modifying the reserved data of a private nature as very serious offences that are subject to administrative sanctions by the National Telecommunication Commission of Honduras (CONATEL) and the Public Ministry. Moreover, the Criminal Code imposes criminal responsibility for infringing privacy.

According to Art. 20 of the Regulation of Internet Service or Access to Computer Networks, operators of Internet services or providing access to computer networks should conserve IP addresses for at least one year to serve as a source for judicial investigation.

Honduras is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

Honduras has a clear regime of copyright exceptions that follows the fair dealing model, which enables the lawful use of copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission. Arts. 46-57 of the Copyright and Related Rights Law lists the exceptions for the lawful use of the copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission.

Copyright is not adequately enforced online in Honduras. It is reported that while the legislative framework for the protection of intellectual property rights, which includes the Honduran copyright law and its industrial property law, is generally adequate, the laws are often not effectively implemented. In particular, there are concerns with respect to online and software piracy, as well as cable signal piracy.

Honduras has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.